Revolvers tend to be a platform you either love or hate. Some gun owners see them as outdated, while others eschew modern striker-fired semi-autos in favor of them. Of course, certain revolvers stand out as classics and are more likely than other models to win over semi-auto fans. It comes as no surprise at all that Smith & Wesson designs and produces some of those revolvers, and the Smith & Wesson 686 is one. The Smith & Wesson 686 is a classic gun that’s proven itself through time and serious use, and we’re here to tell you all about it (and why it just might be the revolver you should choose to add to your semi-auto gun collection).
What is the Smith & Wesson 686?
The Smith & Wesson 686 is an L-frame model designed by Smith & Wesson in 1980. Yes, the 686 has been around for nearly fifty years. The 686 comes in various barrel lengths, including 2.5 inches, 3.0 inches, 4.0 inches, 6.0 inches, and 8.325 inches. The 686 was once popular with law enforcement and, currently, is a popular choice among hunters and self-defenders. Of course, the latter tends to depend on when and where the person is carrying for self-defense. It is a large enough revolver that open carry is a lot easier than concealed carry.
Smith & Wesson made this gun to handle magnum rounds. The 686’s L-frame design is based on the K-frame. Law enforcement used the K-frame extensively with the Model 19 and Model 66. Of course, the L-frame is a larger, more solidly designed frame, and that’s one of the things giving it an edge when it comes to attracting semi-auto fans to revolvers.
What are the specifications of the Smith & Wesson 686?
For this review, we’re covering the Smith & Wesson 686 Plus — also known as the 686P — with a four-inch barrel. The “plus” in its name means it holds one more round than the standard six-round capacity 686 model. This seven-shot revolver is chambered in .357 Magnum, meaning you can also run .38 Special in it. The 686 is a single-action/double-action revolver, which is pretty standard. As an L-frame, it’s considered a medium-sized gun by Smith & Wesson (something you have to get used to with revolvers is frame sizes and labels varying by manufacturer).
With its four-inch barrel (which is really 4.13 inches), the 686P has an overall length of 9.56 inches. Its overall height is 6.0 inches, its width is 1.55 inches, and it weighs 39.2 ounces empty. Grips are synthetic, black, and rubberized for greater comfort while shooting. The gun has a stainless steel finish. It ships with a standard red, ramped front sight and black adjustable rear sight and is not optics-ready (there aren’t many optics-ready revolvers on the market just yet). The reinforced top strap and forcing cone of the 686P cut down felt recoil and muzzle rise. Those additions also make the gun better able to withstand the use of magnum loads.
How does the 686 shoot?
At 39 ounces empty, this is certainly a solid gun, and that translates to being aware of its weight in your hands. For this review, I used both .357 Magnum and .38 Special loads. On the magnum side, this included Remington Performance Wheelgun .357 Magnum 158-grain LSWC, Remington UMC .357 Magnum 125-grain JSP, and Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum 145-grain JSP. For .38 Special, it included Sellier & Bellot .38 Special 158-grain FMJ, Browning .38 Special 130-grain FMJ, and Hornady American Gunner .38 Special 125-grain JHP XTP. The gun experienced zero failures of any kind during testing and also hasn’t had any failures while hunting or training with it.
The molded finger grooves and shape of the 686P fit my hands well. However, it’s likely shooters with smaller hands will dislike the size and placement of the grooves. While the design and weight distribution leave a greater portion of the weight in front of the grip, it isn’t to such an extreme that it’s an issue. That weight also helps when it comes time for live fire. During live fire with .357 Magnum loads, the felt recoil and muzzle rise is noticeable but not problematic. If you find it’s a bit much, switch to .38 Special loads, which produce significantly less recoil. But generally speaking, even the magnum loads don’t produce prohibitive recoil. Of course, you’re going to be a bit extra aware if not used to magnums.
This is an accurate gun out to 25 yards. At 50 yards, groups spread out but are still close enough for hunting purposes. Although the 686P loaded with .357 Magnum is suitable for self-defense, you might consider technological advancements and use .38 Special defensive loads instead. You can certainly use .357 Magnum, but you need to be familiar with the penetration of your chosen ammunition. Remember, you’re responsible for every shot fired.
Smith & Wesson designed the 686P in such a way that it’s fine for extended live fire sessions. It’s enjoyable to shoot, and that means a lot with magnums. This gun also works smoothly from the holster, although its overall width makes it a challenge to conceal (notice I didn’t say impossible).
The 686P checks all the boxes for reliability and has a great ergonomic design. However, it does only hold seven rounds. That might mean carrying a speedloader if you intend to use it as a carry gun. Although speed strips work, speedloaders are a far better idea to quickly reload your gun. No muss, no fuss. As with any gun, you need to spend time on the range and, hopefully, in classes honing your skills. Shooting is a perishable skill and definitely something you need to maintain.
Should you get a Smith & Wesson 686?
Whatever variant or dash of the 686 you select, you’ll be making a good choice. Keep in mind that shorter barrels do have greater felt recoil and muzzle rise. This four-inch barrel model really is a great sweet spot for defensive purposes and carry. If you go with the standard 686 rather than the Plus, you have six rounds, not seven, and that’s also worth remembering. You should also be aware revolvers can and do fail despite comments you might hear about them being 100% reliable for life. Overall, this is a reliable, high-quality revolver that runs smoothly and is a great option for your first (or tenth) revolver.
